Generational Change in the Iranian
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k o No. 2 • March 2012 o l Generational Change in the Iranian t Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force: u Brigadier General Iraj Masjedi O By Ali Alfoneh n r This is the fifth in a series of Middle Eastern Outlooks about the IRGC QF.1 e t Brigadier General Iraj Masjedi of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force (IRGC QF) personifies the new generation of IRGC commanders whose careers at Base Ramezan during the 1980s war between Iran and Iraq s qualified them to direct QF operations after the 2003 US-led invasion of the country. As Masjedi’s generation is a being promoted to advisory positions in Tehran, a new generation of field operatives is emerging. Those seeking to predict who will direct the IRGC QF in the future should therefore look to this nascent generation of field operatives. E Not a single week passes in the Iranian and From Obscurity into the Limelight e international presses without mention of Major l General Qassem Suleimani, Islamic Revolution- Previously under the radar, Masjedi emerged as a d ary Guards Corps Quds Force (IRGC QF) com- public figure when he unveiled a commemorative mander. Suleimani and the IRGC QF can be d linked to events ranging from suppression of the i prodemocracy movement in Syria to the emer- Key points in this Outlook: gence of revolutionary movements in the Middle M East and North Africa.2 • Though little is known in the United States about Brigadier General Iraj Masjedi of the Despite press coverage, little is known about Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds the activities of Suleimani and the clandestine Force (IRGC QF), he serves in an influential force under his command. However, a close role as senior adviser to IRGC QF Comman- survey of Persian open-source materials provides der Qassem Suleimani. us with the names of several key individuals who shed light into the otherwise dark and secretive • Masjedi is part of an emerging group of leaders in Iran—Base Ramezan veterans world of the QF. This Middle Eastern Outlook, from the 1980s Iran-Iraq war who formed the fifth in a series about the IRGC QF, discusses bonds with Iraqi insurgents to enhance war one such individual: Brigadier General Iraj tactics in the border region. Masjedi, senior adviser to Suleimani and a veteran of IRGC QF Base Ramezan. • Masjedi’s career illuminates a cycle of generational change within of the IRGC QF, and examining his background can help identify who else may rise to power Ali Alfoneh ([email protected]) is a resident fellow in the IRGC QF. at AEI. 1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.862.5800 www.aei.org - 2- bust of Kazem Kazemi, late IRGC Intelligence Bureau provide only vague insight into his thinking. In his cofounder, in Laleh Park in Tehran on January 16, 2012. December 16, 2010, interview with the Tehran-based Fars News Agency presented Masjedi as “senior adviser International Peace Studies Centre, Masjedi delivered a to the commander [of the IRGC QF].”3 cogent analysis of the negotiation tactics of the Iraqi Kurds concerning redistribution of Iraq’s oil revenue, territorial disputes among ethnic groups in Kirkuk, rela- A close survey of Persian open-source materials tions between the Iraqi Kurds and the government of provides us with the names of several key Turkey, and related issues.7 Masjedi’s tone was almost triumphant in his September 4, 2011, interview on Iran’s individuals who shed light into the otherwise influence in Iraq: “The political authority in Iraq is mov- dark and secretive world of the QF. ing in a direction parallel to the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Masjedi said, and then described Iran as “the most influential stream in Iraq’s political issues.”8 Masjedi used the occasion to praise Kazemi, but also When speaking to an IRGC audience, Masjedi uses commented on the relationship between the IRGC the organization’s well-known official rhetoric; in Intelligence Bureau, its Intelligence Ministry, and the addressing the Salman IRGC unit in Sistan va Balou- Quds Force: “The Guards’ Intelligence [Directorate] was chestan province, Masjedi said: transformed into the present day Intelligence Ministry— a sacred institution which came out of the heart of the The Islamic awakening in the Middle East and Guards Intelligence,” Masjedi said. “The second organi- North Africa follows the path of the late Imam zation and establishment is the Quds Force in which me [Rouhollah Khomeini] and the example of the and many other friends are and which is another child of warriors during eight years of Sacred Defense and the Guards’ Intelligence [Directorate].”4 the Imposed War [against] Iran [reference to the Given the fierce rivalry between the IRGC Intelli- 1980–88 war with Iraq]. The heads of state have gence Bureau and Intelligence Ministry, the IRGC’s on many occasions admitted this.9 decision to commemorate Kazemi and Masjedi’s choice of words are hardly surprising. The IRGC Intelligence Speaking in Ahwaz in the Khouzestan Province on Directorate—currently known as the Sazeman-e Ettelaat-e September 27, 2011, Masjedi stressed that “export of Sepah [Guards’ Intelligence Organization]5—used this the Islamic revolution is one of the achievements of occasion as an opportunity to remind the rival Intelli- the Sacred Defense.”10 From the limited material avail- gence Ministry of its debt to the IRGC. able, one can distinguish between Masjedi’s thoughtful It is nonetheless surprising that the IRGC chose to statements given to journalists and his repetition of expose Masjedi to the broader public. The IRGC leader- official IRGC slogans when addressing the public. ship may have done so to communicate Masjedi’s ele- The open-source material provides slightly better vated position as the commander’s senior adviser to the insight into Masjedi’s military career. The earliest refer- greater fraternity of IRGC members—both those in ence to Masjedi appears in the February 21, 1987, entry active duty and veterans from the Iran-Iraq war. The of the IRGC’s Iran-Iraq War Chronology, which claims action may also have been an attempt to expose Masjedi that Masjedi was the Base Ramezan deputy.11 He served to the press by bringing him in from the field. Regardless under Mohammad-Baqer Zolqadr,12 the first commander of the reasons behind Masjedi’s exposure, it heralds a in the history of the base,13 who is currently the Societal generational change in the IRGC QF. Security and Crime Prevention director of the Judiciary.14 By September 15, 1987, Masjedi was appointed chief Iraj Masjedi: Biography, Ideology, of staff at the Quds Base,15 a tactical location north of the and Career Overview Karkheh River.16 Recent references to Masjedi present contradictory information about him. For example, a Personal information about Masjedi such as his date September 27, 2011, story reported by the Iran Labour and place of birth cannot be found in public records.6 News Agency (ILNA) refers to Masjedi as “Quds Force There is a similar dearth of information about Masjedi’s deputy,”17 while the Sistan va Balouchestan branch of the ideological tenets. His few publicly available speeches Basij Resistance Force more plausibly presents him as - 3- “Quds Base deputy”18 in a report dated the same day as mander;30 Gholam-Ali Rashid, IRGC operations com- ILNA’s story. It is unclear when exactly Masjedi was mander;31 Mostafa Izadi, IRGC staff member;32 Moham- appointed senior adviser to Suleimani, though it must mad-Baqer Zolqadr, IRGC Irregular Warfare have occurred prior to Fars News Agency’s January 16, Headquarters commander;33 and Asghar Moqaddam, 2012, article mentioning said title.19 whose role during the war is unclear.34 Other first- generation Base Ramezan commanders with whom Masjedi’s Service in IRGC QF’s Masjedi must have been in contact include Mohammad- Base Ramezan Ali Rahmani, former Ramezan Base intelligence comman- der;35 Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former engineer at the Masjedi’s record of service in Base Ramezan is significant IRGC Special Operations Brigade and current president for two important reasons: it was the hub of the IRGC of Iran;36 Sadeq Mahsouli, former IRGC Special Opera- QF’s war effort behind enemy lines in Iraq, and many Base tions Brigade commander who served as welfare minister Ramezan veterans are now IRGC QF commanders. to Ahmadinejad;37 and Parviz Fattah, who served as Toward the end of 1984, the IRGC presented a plan energy minister in the same cabinet.38 to then-president Ali Khamenei and the Supreme Defense Council calling for the establishment of an Irregular War- The QF, tasked with the extraterritorial operations fare Headquarters.20 After experiencing a stalemate on the southern front, the IRGC went about establishing of the IRGC, used Base Ramezan to organize Ramezan headquarters as a northern front against Iraq.21 Shi’a Iraqi refugees looking to engage in armed The QF, tasked with the extraterritorial operations of struggle against Iraq’s Ba’ath regime. the IRGC, used Base Ramezan to organize Shi’a Iraqi refugees looking to engage in armed struggle against Iraq’s Ba’ath regime. The refugee groups included the Supreme Masjedi’s presence at Base Ramezan also allowed him Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq,22 led by Iraqi to establish a relationship with senior KDP officials such Shi’a leader Mohammad-Baqir al-Hakim. More impor- as Fazel Mirani, Molazem Babak, and Abd al-Mohaiman tantly, the IRGC QF managed to cooperate with Kurdish Barzani,39 as well as the highest officials in the PUK, insurgents inside Iraqi territory, such as the Kurdistan including Jalal Talabani, the current president of Iraq.40 Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of It was Masjedi who, during a meeting with Talabani, Kurdistan (PUK).23 The presence of various Iraqi groups assured him of Iran’s commitment to the war against provided Base Ramezan with the necessary operational Iraq: “You rest assured, we will not under any circum- flexibility to gain allies whenever a particular Iraqi insur- stances have peace with Saddam.